Delicious and moist chocolate malt cupcakes with a fluffy chocolate malt frosting you can't resist!
The Friday before Valentine's Day our church held a couples' event with 50's flair, called Dinner at the Diner. Everyone showed up in their 50's outfits, some which were quite amazing. Friends shared their candy cigarettes with us and there were bubble gum blowing games along with who could hula hoop the longest. To bring out the music of the decade, a jukebox played hoppin' oldies music all night long.
There was even a photo booth...
Although the meal was catered by a local deli, Ben was in charge of planning this event, so I really wanted to serve up something of my own. My contribution to the dinner were these chocolate malts in cupcake form! Who doesn't think of chocolate malts when eating at a diner? But, it was impossible for us to keep that many malts from melting so, naturally, cupcakes were the solution.
The cake part of these were amazing, but the frosting really stole the show. I honestly could not keep my hands (tongue) off it! (No worries, I kept things sanitary people!) 🙂 It was chocolaty, malty, fluffy and just a dream to pipe. Ben even declared it the best frosting ever.
These cupcakes were a hit and really dressed up the dessert table with their festive paper straws. I would love to have a reason to make these again -- and soon!
Chocolate Malt Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups malted milk powder (original flavor)
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs , at room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream , at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 1 cup vegetable shortening , at room temperature
- 1/2 cup malted milk powder (original flavor)
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 cups confectioner sugar , sifted
- Optional: Chocolate Covered Malt Balls (such as Whoppers) and straws to garnish
Instructions
To make the cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard cupcake pans with paper liners.
- In a mixer bowl, use the whisk attachment to blend the milk and malted milk powder. Mix until the powder is dissolved. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, sugars, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture and the oil to the milk mixture, blending on medium-high speed until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly into the cupcake liners, filling halfway. (To keep it from getting messy, I typically use a freezer bag to pipe the batter into the tins.) Bake, rotating halfway through, until passes the toothpick test (about 18-20 minutes.) Cool completely before frosting. (Meanwhile, clean the mixer bowl to make the frosting.)
To prepare the frosting:
- Whip the butter and shortening together in a large mixer bowl on high speed for several minutes until very light and fluffy. (Be patient!) Stir in the malted milk powder and cocoa. Whip on medium-high speed for 1 minute. Slowly add the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time. Mix until the frosting becomes thick and a stiffer consistency for piping.
- Pipe large swirls of frosting on top of cupcakes and top with chocolate covered malt balls and straws, if desired.
- Source: Recipe and decorating from That Winsome Girl, originally from The Culinary Chronicles
Lisa (Dishes of Mrs. Fish) says
What a fun social, and great looking cupcakes! 🙂
Blog is the New Black says
Gorgeous! Where did you get those straws? This is so strange- as I have Whopppers and malt powder sitting on my counter because I wanted to make malted cookies. Def making these instead! 🙂
Nikki says
Liz- The straws are from Bake It Pretty. I meant to link to them in the post. Glad you reminded me! I'm going to add it now. 🙂
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Leah (So, How's It Taste?) says
I made a similar recipe for these a few weeks ago and they were so good! Who knew chocolate malt flavor would make such great tasting cupcakes? Your pic with the straws are too cute!
Tara @ Smells Like Home says
we're totally on the same wavelength today, Nikki - I posted malted milk chocolate milkshakes...though I think I would take one of these cupcakes over a milkshake any day!
Jen @ BeantownBaker.com says
Wow, the best frosting ever. That has me intrigued. Love the photo btw!
Annie says
These look and sound super yummy - definitely trying them. Also, you look like June Cleaver. So cute!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
These really are a perfect dessert with that theme. They look fantastic!
Sarah from 20somethingcupcakes says
These look scrumptious! I've been craving doing something with malt lately, and now you have me wanting to do a whole 50s theme!
Amy Kelly says
I'm so glad you enjoyed these cupcakes as much as I did! They're one of my absolute favorite cupcakes at the moment, I don't think I could ever tire of that delicious frosting!
Joanne says
What a super fun theme for a party! You look so cute in your diner outfits! Malts make me think both of diners and those old school ice cream parlors. Oh those were the days. What a gorgeous cupcake!
Andy Fishback says
I have to say that those cupcakes were amazing. My wife and I were talking about them all week after the dinner at church. I found that the frosting was not only the perfect texture, but it also has just the right flavor to go with the rest of the dessert. I'm sure we will make these in our home sometime soon.
[email protected] says
Okay, that's it, I have to make these right now! I love malt flavor! I even have some of that malted milk powder in my pantry, if it isn't expired yet, I think I will give these a try in the morning. Is that you in the picture? You are so so so skinny!
alyce says
Such a cute photo! Great presentation!
Linn @ Swedish Home Cooking says
Wow, you did a good job shooting this! It has such great colors. I'm from Sweden and I just moved back here from living abroad the past years, and we don't really have cupcakes (if you don't make them yourselves of course). I miss them!
Cookbook Queen says
I LOVE malt powder...I bet this frosting was insane. I will definitely be trying it!! Your pictures are too cute!!
Tricia N says
These look awesome. My husband and I share a love of chocolate malts....I will be trying these soon!
Vaishali says
Beautiful cupcakes! Looks super delicious! congrats on top9!
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets says
I love this idea! Definitely must make it for my boyfriend and his coworkers soon :).
Brenda says
The malt cupcakes are ADORABLE!!!
What pastry tip did you use for the piping?
Did you use any special technique to get it to mound
like that?
Thanks!
Nikki says
Hi Brenda, The pastry tip is the 1M from Wilton. Just pipe it on, no special technique. 🙂
John young says
Can you you use this recipe to make a cake version
Sue Gladd says
I must try this recipe, Nikki! You made me drool.